Thin film solar power shingles
Posted by Solar energy guru | Filed under Solar panels & photovoltaic cells
When you think of home solar power, are you picturing big PV panels mounted on the roof? That’s what most people think of and then shudder at how their house would look. It doesn’t have to be that way, however. As interest has risen in home solar options, new technologies have been developed that not only make solar power easier but much better looking on your home. Solar shingles can enable you to incorporate solar energy into your home but still blend in with your home’s design.
Solar shingles, also known as photovoltaic shingles, come in a variety of styles. The most common and affordable design is made to look like traditional asphalt shingles. While all styles are better looking than the conventional roof-mounted PV panels, some are designed to blend in with the rest of the roof to the point of being almost unnoticeable.
These types of roofing systems are known as BIPVs (building-integrated photovoltaics) in the industry because of the ability to blend the solar power generation into the design of the building so that it is still aesthetically pleasing. The solar cell is often laminated to the surface of the shingle so the shingles can be made of metal, slate or tile if desired. Each shingle is wired in separately through the roof to an inverter which converts the sunlight’s energy into usable electricity.
One of the most recent developments in the solar shingle industry incorporates the latest thin-film solar cell technologies. This enables the manufacturer to match the appearance of traditional asphalt shingles. The thin-film solar shingles can be made in the same size and shape as regular asphalt shingles and just as flexible which makes them a very good roofing choice. The solar shingles are even textured so that they blend in almost seamlessly when mixed with conventional asphalt shingles.
Each shingle doesn’t produce a whole lot of electricity on its own but put together the new roof can produce most of the electricity needed to power your home. Using solar shingles doesn’t mean you can go completely off the grid, of course. Generally, they work with your existing electric service so that it supplements, rather than replacing your utility company. This way there isn’t any need for a storage system to save the solar energy.
Obviously, a solar shingle system of any style will pay for itself over time. The time it will take for the payback in energy savings will vary depending on where you are located and the cost of electricity in your region. Someone in a very sunny climate, like Arizona, will generate more electricity than a homeowner in New York. However, electricity tends to cost more in areas that have a lot of inclement weather. Overall, homeowners average up to 60% savings on their annual energy bills with a solar shingle system.
Solar shingles have several advantages over traditional PV panel systems. They are very lightweight and can be installed over a simple underlay of ventilated plywood. Solar shingles can be laid just like traditional shingles in that they overlap. This provides for the same weather protection as traditional asphalt shingles. While the costs of purchasing solar shingles is still higher than traditional materials, the costs of installation are still low. You will need to have an electrician to hook the system up to the electrical system of the home, however. The best advantage of solar shingles is the ability to incorporate solar power into the existing design of your home.
Solar shingle roofing systems, like other home solar power options, utilize the renewable power of the sun to produce clean energy. They are very low maintenance and extremely durable. Most manufacturers offer a twenty year warranty on their solar products – can you think of another roofing material that offers that kind of durability while saving you on your energy costs?
November 18th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Where can I find a distributor for solar shingles?????